CBC Archives

Have students work in groups of three to brainstorm and record what they already know about the Boat People, Vietnamese refugees who left Vietnam in small boats to find a new life in countries around the world. Each group should post its ideas and share them with the class.

Have students watch and listen to Clip 1, including the “Did You Know?” section, on the topic Boat People Crisis on the CBC Radio and Television Archives Web site. In their original groups of three, students will outline the reasons and events that led to the Vietnamese leaving their country. Students can also browse the topic for about 20 minutes to find other information about why the refugees fled.

Gather as a class and create a class list of all the details students found.

Invite students to discuss their opinions about the Vietnam War. Have them reflect on what happened to refugees in Vietnam and compare the situation to that of refugees in other conflicts such as Desert Storm, the 2003 war in Iraq, or the War on Terrorism. Encourage students to think critically about what factors led to the similarities and differences in refugee experiences.

Have students listen to Human Rights Committee President Joan Baez in Clip 2 on the topic Boat People Crisis on the CBC Radio and Television Archives Web site. Students can discuss with a partner, or reflect in their journal, the role of leaders in bringing world attention to the plight of those left in Vietnam. Students should further discuss whether other countries should have become involved in the internal politics of Vietnam.